Clip ring dispensers



Oct. 16, 1962 c. P. COLDREN 3,058,596

CLIP RING DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

CHESTER P. COLDREN BY I g m pm ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1962 c. P. COLDRENCLIP RING DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.

CHESTER F! COLDREN ATTOR N EYS ited rates Broadly, this inventionrelates to a clip ring dispenser and application but more specifically,provides for a dispenser of a unique and novel assembly functioning toorientate and maintain a stack of rings in proper alignment fordispensing by a suitable applicator.

Clip ring dispensers of known design are generally provided with anassembly operable to receive a plurality of rings disposed on a carrierin the form of a rod or tubular member. Depending upon the structuralconfigura tion of the ring, the carrier is designed to accommodate therings such that each ring is identically arranged thereon in properalignment for positioning on the dispenser. In general, the function ofthe dispenser is to transfer the oriented rings from the carrier portionto a position from which they can be handled by the applicator,maintaining throughout the transferring operation, the desirable andnecessary constant ring alignment provided by the carrier.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a ringdispenser operable to maintain constant ring alignment during thedispensing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ring dispensercomprised of relatively few parts wherein only a minimum number of theseparts need be changed to accommodate various ring sizes.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a ring dispenserwhich is basically of a construction facilitating ease of assembly andrequiring little maintenance during the operation thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel dispenser whichis simple in structure resulting in economical costs for its production.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the drawings forminga part of the specification and in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the type rings which are to be dispensed.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a ring carrier upon which the rings of FIGURE 1 arepositioned and aligned thereby.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the device illustrating the dispenserand ring carrier in assembled form and includes the illustration of thelocation of the rings as they are about to be dispensed and picked up bya suitable applicator.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a dispenser in assembled form and is a sideelevational view thereof.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the cartridge loader of the dispenserin its unassembled form.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of the alignment bar of the dispenser inits unassembled form.

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the shim member of the dispenser in itsunassembled form.

Referring to the drawing for more specific details of the invention,FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the type clip ring 10 which is to bedispensed. This ring is formed having a substantially circular body 12with an interrupted portion therein defining a pair of jaws 14 and 16.

FIGURE 2 of the drawing illustrates a plurality of rings 10 shown inFIGURE 1 disposed on a ring carrier 18. Each ring is placed on thecarrier at an axial end portion thereof and is removable therefrom inthe same ice manner. The carrier is formed in a hollow tubular configuration whereby the radius of curvature of the outside diameter ofthe member is slightly less than the radius of curvature or" the insidediameter of the rings. Thus, upon stacking of the rings, they are freeto axially move along the length of the carrier. A pair oflongitudinally extending ridges 20 and 22 are formed on the outercircumferential surface equally circumferentially spaced from a centerridge 24 formed thereon with these ridges all being parallel with oneanother and extending along the axial length of the carrier. The ridges20 and 22 are circumferentially spaced from one another on the carrier adistance substantially equal to the arcuate distance between the ringjaws 14 and 16 on the inside diameter of the ring and accordingly limitthe rotative movement of the rings about the carrier.

FIGURES 37 illustrate a dispenser device 26 and the individual elementsthereof on which the rings are dis posed in position for the dispensingoperation. The dispenser 26 comprises a base 28 and an alignment bar 30secured to the base by one or more fastening bolts or screws 32. Thealignment bar 30 as illustrated in FIG- URES 3, 4 and 6 is formed in anL-shaped configuration wherein a horizontal leg 34 thereof engages thebase 28 and is suitably secured thereto. A vertical leg 36 of thealignment bar is substantially perpendicular to the base member and hasa flat wall surface area 38 thereon interrupted by a key slot 40extending along a section of the length of the leg. This slot isadaptable to receive the center ridge 24 of the ring carrier forslideable engagement therewith and has a base or stop 42 provided at thelower end of the slot, thus limiting downward axial movement of thecarrier. The cross-sectional configuration of slot 40 is not criticaland it is only required that enough clearance be provided to accommodatecenter ridge 24 of the ring carrier. A pair of vertically spacedopenings 44 and 46 are formed in leg 36 and are arranged so as to belocated axially beneath the key slot 40 and cooperate with structurehereinafter described in detail.

A cartridge loader 48 as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, is disposedon base 28 and has a pair of open ings 5i) and 52 therein shown inFIGURE 5. Openings 50 and 52 are spaced in a manner to coincide withopenlugs 44 and 46 respectively of the alignment bar. A screw or bolt 54is disposed through opening 44 and threaded into opening 50 of thecartridge loader and thus serves as a means to attach alignment bar 30to the cartridge loader. An alignment pin 56 is disposed through opening46 and is frictionally secured in opening 52 serving to align andposition bar 30 with cartridge loader 48. Cartridge loader 48 has a baseportion 58 in engagement with base 28 of the dispenser. A shouldersurface 60 is formed on loader base 58 and a pair of opposed slots 64are formed in the cylindrical portion 62 at the intersection of thatportion with shoulder 60. (The purpose thereof will be described later.)

In order to properly position cartridge loader 48 with respect toalignment bar 30, a surface 66 is provided parallel to the axis of thecylindrical portion 62 thus defining a longitudinal segment of a solidcylinder and further providing a recess to receive a shim member to behereinafter described.

A mounting cylinder portion 70 is formed integral with cylindricalportion 62 and is of a smaller diameter than the arcuate portion 62;thus, a shoulder 68 is formed between mounting cylinder 70 andcylindrical portion 62. The diameter of mounting cylinder portion 70 isslightly less than the inside diameter of ring carrier 18 so thatcarrier 18 is readily receivable on the mounting cylinder. Shouldersurface 68 is of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of thecarrier and accordingly, the carrier upon being placed on mountingcylinder 70, abuts this shoulder and is restrained from further downwardaxial movement thereon.

A shim member 72 as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7 of the drawing, isdisposed intermediate the alignment bar 30 and loader 48 and abutssurface 66 and wall surface 38 of leg 36. This shim is formed in asubstantially rectangular solid configuration whereby surfaces 74 and 76thereof are arranged so as to abut surface 66 of the loader and wallsurface 33 of leg 36 respectively. A pair of openings 78 and 80 are alsoformed in the shim and are in alignment with the openings formed in theloader and in the bar while being similarly adaptable to receive thesecuring bolt 54 and alignment pin 56. The twofold function of the shimis to locate the loader with respect to the bar and accordingly, allowthe center ridge 24 of the ring carrier access to the key slot 40located on the alignment bar; also, when rings slide from carrier 18onto cylindrical portion 62 and are no longer in contact with theoutside ridges and 22 of the carrier, the shim is disposed in the openjaw of the rings and thus end surfaces 82 and 84 prevent relativerotation between the rings and the loader. The shim therefore serves inthe relationship as a spacer and positioner and also as a means toinsure proper orientation of the rings when transfer from carrier 18 tothe dispenser is effected. It is important to note that the shim must beof a width less than the distance between the jaws 14 and 16 of therings to be dispensed in order to maintain proper ring alignment.

At such time when the rings are ready for dispensing as disclosed inFIGURE 3, the lowermost ring of the stack rests on shoulder surface 60of the loader. Slots 64 are formed in the lower cylindrical portion 62of the loader and are spaced from one another at diametrically opposedpositions a distance substantially equal to or less than the width ofthe shim member of the device. Since slots 64 are in coplanarrelationship with the bottom ring, the ring jaws can be moved throughthe slots and the ring removed from the loader in a directionperpendicular to the loader axis.

The rings are removed from the loader by a suitable applicator tool 86which is illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. This applicatorcomprises a body and handle (not shown), and a pair of fingers 88 and 90extending from the body. These fingers are laterally spaced and arecapable of being resiliently biased from one another with the fingerends forming a pair of jaws 92 and 94. The jaws have arcuate recessedportions 96 and 98 formed therein with the configuration of the recesshaving a radius of curvature slightly less than the radius of curvatureof the outside diameter of the ring. The jaws of the tool uponengagement with the ring which is to be dispensed, grip the axialoutside diameter surface of the ring and through the resilientcharacteristic of the fingers, hold the ring tightly in the recess ofthe jaws as the ring is slipped past the slots 64 of the loader. Thusthe ring is properly located in the applicator and is ready forplacement in the desired location.

The dispenser as disclosed is operable to handle a particular size clipring. A feature of this invention lies in the interchangeability of theelements of the dispenser to accommodate various sized rings. As anexample, if a larger diametered ring were necessary and appropriate fora particular application, in the dispenser assembly, the shim andcartridge loader would be changed to accommodate the new ring size. Thecartridge loader of the dispenser must correspond in dimension to thering dimensions at the cylindrical portions thereof particularly as tothe radius of curvature of the rings. Also the dimensions of the uppercylindrical portion of the loader which receives the ring carrier andthe ring carrier itself must correspond to maintain operability of thedevice.

The shim dimensions therefor must be such that the assembly of the ringcarrier on the loader will be made in proper alignment through theutilization of the key slot located in the alignment bar. Further, thewidth thereof must be of a dimension slightly less than the lineardistance between the ring jaws at the inside diameter of the ring.Because of the above recited simplicity in this structure and ease ofassembly of the device, such a change can readily be made.

To more fully understand the new and novel features of the device, atypical operating cycle from the loading of the carrier to thedispensing of the rings will be described in detail as follows.

The rings 10 are manually or automatically placed on carrier 18 at oneaxial end thereof and are stacked to the desired number determined bythe carrier length. The ring jaws slideably engage the carrier ridges 20and 22 and are aligned thereby preventing rotative movement of the ringsabout the carrier. The carrier tubular configuration is designed todimensionally coincide with the loader of the dispenser and uponassembly, the carrier slides over mounting cylinder 70 of the loader andone end thereof abuts the shoulder 68. Since this shoulder is of a widthequal to the thickness of the carrier, the carrier is restrained fromfurther downward movement on the loader while the rings are free toslide, gravitationally down the carrier and onto the loader cylindricalportion 62 without interference from the shoulder. The carrier isaligned on the loader by the introduction of the center ridge 24 thereofinto the key slot 40 of the alignment bar. The rings therefore arealigned and thereby pass over the shoulder onto the loader.

The ring jaws, once leaving the contact and alignment of the carrierridges, are maintained in the same alignment as initiated by the carrierridges by shim surfaces 82 and 84. The slots 64 as formed in thecylindrical portion 62 are diametrically spaced so as to enable the jawsof the rings to slide from the shim surfaces 82 and 84 past thecylindrical portion 62 of the loader. The applicator accordingly isdirected to the loader and picks up the rings at an angle perpendicularto the axis of the loader and thus the rings are dispensed and ready forapplication.

While this invention has been described in connection with certainspecific embodiments, the principle involved is substantially capable ofnumerous other applications that would readily occur to persons skilledin the art. The invention, therefore, is limited only as indicated bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip tings disposedthereon for transfer to an applicator, each of said rings beingsubstantially annular in shape having a continuous annular surfacethereon defining an inner diameter with an interrupted portion in saidrings to define a pair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member,an aligning means secured to said base member, ring loading meansdisposed on said base member and positioned thereon by said aligningmeans, surfaces on said ring loading means for permitting removal ofsaid rings therefrom, means located intermediate said aligning means andsaid ring loading means operable to laterally space said aligning andring loading means on said base member, ring carrying means having ringsthereon disposable on said ring loading means, said aligning meanshaving a recess, structure on said ring carrying means for reception insaid recess to maintain the ring carrying means fixed against rotationwith said ring jaws engageable with said spacing means and beingmaintained in circumferential alignment with said surfaces on said ringloading means.

2. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip rings disposedthereon for transfer to an applicator, each of said rings beingsubstantially annular in shape having a continuous annular surfacethereon defining an inner diameter with an interrupted portion in saidrings to define a pair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member,an aligning means secured to said base member, a ring loading meansdisposable on said base and positionable thereon by said aligning means,recessed surfaces on said ring loading means for permitting removal ofsaid rings therefrom, ring carrying means having rings thereondisposable on said ring loading means and engageable with said aligningmeans, said aligning means including a recess, structure on said ringcarrying means for reception in said recess t0 rotatably fix said ringcarrying means on said ring loading means, a spacer intermediatelydisposed between said ring loading means and said aligning means, saidrings being axially movable on said carrier and engageable with saidspacer, said spacer being adaptable to fix said rings from rotation onsaid ring loading means for maintaining circumferential alignment ofsaid ring jaws with said recessed surfaces on said ring loading means.

3. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip rings disposedthereon for transfer to an applicator, each of said rings beingsubstantially annular in shape having a continuous annular surfacethereon defining an inner diameter with an interrupted portion in saidrings to define a pair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member,an aligning means secured to said base member, a ring loading meanspositionable on said base by said aligning means, spacer means disposedintermediate said ring loading means and said aligning means, said ringloading means comprising a base portion formed on one end thereofengageable with said dispenser base, a first cylindrical portiondisposed adjacent said base portion of said ring loading means, a firstshoulder formed between said first cylindrical portion and said baseportion, a second cylindrical portion disposed adjacent said firstcylindrical portion, said second portion having a smaller diameter thansaid first portion forming a sec-ond shoulder therebetween, said firstcylindrical portion having surfaces thereon defining a pair of slotsdisposed at the intersection of said first cylindrical portion with saidfirst shoulder, ring carrying means disposable on said secondcylindrical portion and engageable with said second shoulder, a surfaceon said aligning means, means on said ring carrying means cooperablyengageable with said surface on said aligning means operable to fix saidring carrying means from rotation on said second cylindrical portion,said rings being axially movable on said carrier to said firstcylindrical portion with said first cylindrical portion engageable withsaid ring inner diameter, said ring jaws being engageable with saidspacer at the engagement of said rings with the base portion of saidring loading means and being maintained in circumferential alignmentwith said surfaces on said first cylindrical portion defining said slotsfor removal from said ring loading means.

4. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip rings disposedthereon for transfer to an applicator, each of said rings beingsubstantially annular in shape having a continuous annular surfacethereon defining an inner diameter with an interrupted portion in saidrings to define a pair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member,an alignment bar member secured thereto, a loader member disposed onsaid base adaptable to receive said rings, a spacer member disposedintermediate said loader and said bar operable to space said loader fromsaid bar, said loader formed as a substantially cylindrical memberhaving a base portion, a first and a second cylindrical portion thereonforming a shoulder between said cylindrical portions, a ring carrierpositionable on said second portion being axially restrained by saidshoulder and rotatably fixed on said loader by said alignment bar, saidrings being moveable from said carrier to said first cylindrical portionand being held in alignment thereon by said spacer, said first portionhaving a radius of curvature slightly less than that of said rings, saidfirst cylindrical portion defining a pair of slots juxtaposed saidloader base, said slots defined by said first cylindrical portion beingdiametrically spaced from one another a distance less than the distancebetween said ring jaws and being of a width substantially equal to thethickness of one of said rings, said slots defined by said firstcylindrical portion being adapted to allow said rings to be removed fromsaid first cylindrical portion of said loader in a directionsubstantially normal to the axis of said loader.

5. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip rings thereon fortransfer to an applicator, each of said rings being substantiallyannular in shape having a continuous annular surface thereon defining aninner diameter with an interrupted portion in said rings to define apair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member, an alignment barmember secured thereto, a loader member disposed on said base adaptableto receive said rings, a shim member disposed intermediate said loadermember and said bar member operable to laterally space said loader fromsaid bar, said loader member formed in a substantially cylindricalconfiguration comprising a first and second portion having a shoulderformed therebetween and a base at the end of said first portion remotefrom said shoulder, a tubular ring carrier receivable on said secondportion, said tubular ring carrier having a thickness beingsubstantially equal to the width of said shoulder and being axiallyrestrained from movement on said loader member thereby, a recessedsurface formed on said alignment bar member, means on said carrier beingcooperably engageable with said recessed surface on said alignment barmember operable to restrain rotatable movement of said carrier on saidloader member with said shim operable to effect said cooperation and toalign said rings on said loader member, said loader member being adaptedto permit removal of said rings therefrom by said applicator.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5 wherein said tubular ring carriercomprises a wall portion and a series of radially extendingcircumferentially spaced ridges thereon, said ridges being axiallydirected throughout the length of said carrier, a pair of said ridgesbeing operable to abut said ring jaws circumferentially aligning saidrings on said carrier and preventing relative rotation therebetween, afurther one of said ridges being operable to cooperate in slidingengagement with said recessed surface on said bar member effective toprevent relative rotation of said carrier on said loader.

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said series of ridgescomprise a centrally located ridge and a pair of ridges equally spacedon each side of Said centrally located ridge, said pair of ridgesoperable to rotatably restrict said rings from relative rotationtherebetween, said central ridge cooperable with said recessed surfaceon said bar member, preventing rotation of said carrier on said loader.

8. A clip ring dispenser operable to position clip rings disposedthereon for transfer to an applicator, each of said rings beingsubstantially annular in shape having a continuous annular surfacethereon defining an inner diameter with an interrupted portion in saidrings to define a pair of jaws, said dispenser comprising a base member,an alignment bar member secured to said base member, a loader memberdisposed on said base adaptable to receive said rings, a shim memberdisposed intermediate said loader and said bar and being secured to saidloader and bar members in lateral alignment therewith on said base, saidloader formed in a substantially cylindrical configuration having a baseportion, a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion, ashoulder formed between said first and second portion, a ring carrierengageable with said second portion and being receivable thereon, saidcarrier being axially restrained from movement on said loader by saidshoulder, said carrier being cooperably engageable with said alignmentbar with said engagement being operable to rest-rain rotatable movementof said carrier on said loader, said rings disposed on said carrierbeing slideable to said first portion of said loader with said firstportion being engageable with said con tinuous annular surface thereof,said first portion defining a recess therein adaptable to receive saidshim with said recess defined by said first portion axially extendingthroughout the length of said first portion, one end of said shim beingabuttable with said second portion of said loader at said shoulder, saidshim width being slightly less than the distance between said ring jawsand being adaptable to engage said ring jaws preventing relativerotation therebetween on said first portion of said loader, said loaderhaving portions thereon defining slots effective to permit removal ofsaid rings from said loader by said applicator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

